Laundry machine



AJuly 9, 1957 H. c. A. MEYER LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ham Y C A. ME rik BY @wf/@7m ATTORNEYS.

H. C. A. MEYER LAUNDRY MACHINE July 9, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1953 IN VEN TOR. HENRY C.' f v/E YER UQ/ym A T TRNEYS g July 9, 1957 H.vc. A. MEYER 2,798,610

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HENRY C AML'- Ys'n ATTORNEYS.

July 9, 1957 `H. c. A. MEYER 2,798,610

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Mew/zy CAME ren ATTURNEYS.

United States PatentO LAUNDRY MACHINE Henry C. A. Meyer, Syracuse, N. Y. Application December 28, 1953, Serial No. 400,600

16 Claims. (Cl. 21o-144) My invention relates to laundry machines in which the cleaning liquid, such as water or a dry cleaning solvent, is extracted or removed centrifugally from the articles cleaned by rotating at a high speed a perforated receptacle containing the articles. More particularly, it relates to a washer-extractor of the type in which the articles are dried in the same receptacle in which they are cleaned, thereby avoiding the labor and untidiness involved in transferring the liquid-laden load from a washer to a separate extractor, and also permitting a large recovery of the cleaning liquid.

In machines wherein the load is kept in the same receptacle for cleaning and drying, or extraction of the cleaning liquid, serious problems of balancing arise when the receptacle is rotated at a sufliciently high speed for the extraction of the liquid, and if the speed is kept low, adequate removal and recovery of the cleaning liquid is not obtained.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus and an improved method to permit rotation of the receptacle of a washer-extractor at a high speed with a minimum of vibration due to unbalancing of the receptacle and its load.

In accordance with this object, a perforated rotatable tiltable receptacle for the clothes or other articles to be cleaned and dried is provided at its periphery with an annular series of liquid reservoirs; and the unbalance of the receptacle is corrected at a speed below the critical speed of rotation of the receptacle by discharging liquid from the reservoirs on the heavy side of the receptacle as long as a predetermined amount of deflection of the receptacle due to the unbalancing thereof exists. The liquid is preferably supplied to the reservoirs during, or pn'or to, the washing or cleaning cycle from a stationary tub containing the rotatable perforated receptacle. When the rate of rotation has passed beyond the critical speed, as hereinafter explained, further correction of any remaining unbalance is achieved by passing liquid from the reservoirs on the heavy side to the reservoirs on the lighter side of the receptacle. It thus provides for appropriate response to varying loading caused by shifting or varying degrees or differing rates of extraction from diiferent kinds of material at speeds above the critical.

In order that my invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a machine embodying the said embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same partly in front elevation and partly in section on the lines 2-2 and Za-Za of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detail of construction taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 adjacent the opposite end of one of the reservoirs from Figs.. 3 and 4; i i

'2,798,610 Patented July 9, 1957 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and l0 illustrate diagrammatically the operation of the invention during dilerent stages thereof.

The machine illustrated in the drawings includes a receptacle 1 having a perforated peripheral wall 2 provided with perforated longitudinal agitating ribs 3 and end walls 4 and 5. The receptacle 1 is supported by a shaft 6 which is rotatably mounted in an outer bearing 7 and an inner bearing 8. Bearing 7 is of the universal type permitting deflection of the shaft 6 from its horizontal axis of rotation. To this end the bearing 7 may comprise a part 7a secured to the shaft and having an outer spherieally-shaped surface and a correspondingly shaped race 7b supporting the balls 7c so that they contact the outer surface of the part 7a. The bearing housing 13 containingthe race 7b is supported in `lxed position by the cup-shaped head 12 carried by the stationary frame 14 of the machine. B earing 8 is carried by frame member 10 which is resiliently supported by a group of springs 11, each of which is arranged at its outer end in a correspondingly shaped depression in the head 12. Also supported by the frame 14 is a cylindrical shell 15, the righthand end of which (as shown) is provided with a head sheet 16 equipped with a hinged door 17. The walls 12, 15, 16 and 17 constitute a stationary tub within which the perforated receptacle 1 is free to rotate. The hinged door 17 affords access to a correspondingly hinged door 18 centrally located in the head sheet 5 of the receptacle 1. The shaft 6 may be rotated by any suitable means such as the pulley 6a.

Arranged around the periphery of the receptacle 1 is an annular series of pockets or reservoirs 20. These may, for convenience, be located in the respective ribs 3 of the receptacle. To permit the supply of liquid to these reservoirs, each is provided adjacent one end with an admission check valve contained within a housing 22 open into the reservoir at its outer end. The open inner wall of the housing 22 provides a seat against which the ball 21 of the valve may rest to prevent the discharge of liquid from the reservoir. The outer end wall of the housing 22 is spaced suiciently from the inner end wall theerof to permit the ball 21 to be supported in a position olf its seat for the supply of liquid to the reservoir. The check valve permits the solvent or other liquid used in the cleaning operation to flow into the reservoir whenever the rotating drum dips the check valve into the liquid. When the valve is withdrawn from the liquid during the rotation of the receptacle, the valve closes automatically to prevent the captured liquid from escaping or flowing out of the reservoir.

The opposite end of each reservoir 20 is provided with a check valve 24, preferably ball-shaped, contained in a housing 25 open at both ends, the inner end opening into the reservoir. The valve 24 is normally held in closed position against seat 26 by means of a spring 27. Accordingly, the liquid contained within the reservoir cannot escape unless the valve `24 is moved from its seat 26.

To effect such removal, I provide for each reservoir a lever 30 pivotally supported by bolt 31 secured to the head 5. The lever 30 is provided with a beveled or cammed face 32 arranged to engage the valve 24. When the end 33 of lever 30 is urged inwardly towards the center of the receptacle, the beveled or cammed face 32 contacts the valve 24 and forces the same off its seat 26. To effect the movement of the lever 30 to unseat the valve 24, I provide a continuous track or annulus 40 which, as shown, is mounted directly inside the head sheet 16 adjacent its juncture with the shell 15 of the tub. The annulus or track 40 is so placed that the ends 33 of one or more of the levers 30 are acted upon by the track or annulus when the receptacle rotates olf center a predetermined amount, as hereinafter explained. So long as the deflection of the receptacle 1 from its horizontal axis of rotation is less than this predetermined amount, the end 33 of the lever remains in its outer position and the valve 24 remains closed, the said end of the lever being normally biased to its outer position by the centrifugal force incident to the rotation of the drum. A pin 34 fastened to the head sheet S serves to limit the outward travel of the end 33 of lever 30.

My invention also contemplates an arrangement Whereby liquid may be transferred from the reservoirs on the heavier side of the apparatus to the reservoirs on the lighter side. To this end, I have provided a conduit 46 communicating through a connection 45 with each of the reservoirs, the conduit 46 being secured to the receptacle 1 near the head sheet 5. To control the flow through the conduit 46, an orifice 47 is placed therein between each pair of reservoirs. This orifice may be of any conventional type which is adjustable to control the rate of flow through the conduit.

-In operation, the cleaning liquid such as a dry cleaning solvent, is admitted to the stationary tub and maintained at a predetermined level by-any suitable means known in the art. The level is maintained at a height above the top of the lowermost ribs 3. As the receptacle containing the articles to be cleaned rotates, the ribs pass through the solvent, and the reservoirs are gradually filled with solvent admitted past the valves 21. During the cleaning operation, the receptacle 1 rotates at a relatively low speed and is held by the springs 11 so that its axis remains in a substantially horizontal position. Upon completion of the cleaning cycle, the solvent is withdrawn from the tub by any suitable well-known means, such as pipe 48. The receptacle V1 is thereafter rotated at a higher speed than that used during the cleaning operation. The action of centrifugal force on the articles is to effect within the receptacle a partial redistribution of the load about the periphery of the receptacle. The speed during this part of the operation should be slightly over that of gravity so as to effect the desired redistribution of articles, it being understood that during the cleaning operation the speed of rotation is below gravity so as to permit the desired agitation of the articles to be cleaned. The condition in the receptacle 1 at this point is illustrated in Fig. 7 from which it will be seen that the load in the receptacle still remains in an unbalanced condition. The reservoirs 20, as shown, are all substantially filled with the cleaning liquid.

The speed of rotation of the receptacle is now further increased. This results in a marked unbalance of the receptacle, the springs 11 being no longer sufficiently strong to prevent deflection or tilting of the receptacle from its horizontal axis. When this deflection reaches a predetermined amount, the ends 33 of the levers 30 on the outer or heavy side of the receptacle contact the stationary annulus or track 40 and, upon further deflection, cause the levers to be tilted about their axes so as to open the corresponding discharge valves 24 to permit escape of the liquid from the reservoirs on the outer or heavier side. This escape continues so long as the ends 33 of the levers 30 are in contact with the annulus or track 40. The discharged liquid passes into the stationary tub 15. The condition at this time is shown in Fig. 8 which shows the load within the receptacle 1 still in an unbalanced position. However, the reservoirs on the side of the receptacle containing the heavier portion of the load contain less liquid than the reservoirs on the opposite side of the receptacle. During this rotation of the receptacle, a small quantity of the liquid has passed by centrifugal force through the conduit 46 from the reservoirs on the inner or light side of the receptacle, that is the side nearest its horizontal axis of rotation, to the reservoirs on the outer or heavier side, that is the side most remote from the said axis of rotation. The orifices, however, are of suchsize,

or are so set, that the rate of escape of liquid past the valves 24 on the heavier side of the receptacle far exceeds the fiow through the said conduit to the reservoirs. This discharge of liquid from the reservoirs results in a lightening of the reservoirs on the outer or heavy side of the rotating receptacle, but only enough liquid has been released from the reservoirs to permit the rotation of the receptacle within the predetermined maximum deflection at which the valves 24 are open. By reason of the fact that the escape of fluid from the reservoirs is permitted throughout the complete revolution of the receptacle 1 so long as the ends 33 of the levers 30 contact the annular track 40, a rapid balancing action is obtained. This balancing permits satisfactory rotation of the receptacle 1 below its critical speed, even though a certain permissible amount of vibration still exists.

When the receptacle is rotated at an increasingly higher speed so that it reaches and passes through its critical speed, the heavy side of the receptacle which had been on the outside is moved to the inside, and the light side of the receptacle is moved to the outside. This is due to the fact that the phase angle below critical is very small, and it increases very rapidly and approaches a value of when rotation passes through a speed somewhat above critical.

Further balancing of the receptacle is now achieved by the transfer, through centrifugal force, of liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side to the reservoirs on the lighter side through the orificed conduit 46. This flow continues until the rotation of the receptacle 1 is substantially free from vibration at which time the receptacle 1 and its load are in substantially balanced condition and rotate about a horizontal axis, whereupon the flow in the conduit 46 ceases. 'The condition at this time is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 9 which shows the load within the receptacle on the opposite side thereof from Fig. 8 and which shows the unbalanced load within the receptacle counterbalanced by liquid within the reservoirs. If, during the process of extraction at speeds over critical, some elements of'fthe load should release the contained fluid at different rates of release, which may result in constantly shifting centres of weight of the rotating mass, the orifieedconduit 46 provides the means for appropriate shifting of the contained balancing fluid centrifugally, from one side, the heavy side, to the other side, the light side, by immediate and automatic response.

When the extraction operation is complete, the rotation of the receptacle 1 is stopped, and the parts assume the condition shown in Fig. 10 with the load in the bottom of the receptacle.

Many changes may be made in the structure and method disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the invention is applicable to a receptacle rotating about a` vertical instead of a horizontal axis. It is understood that the specific apparatus and method disclosed constitute merely the preferred form of the invention, and that other forms, coming with in the scope ofthe appended claims, are contemplated.

I claim:

1. In a combined cleaner and extractor, the combination of a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and for deflection at an angle to the said axis, said receptacle being provided with an annular series of liquidreservoirs, a stationary tub arranged to supply lliquid to said receptacle or to receive liquid therefrom, said reservoirs being provided with means arranged to enter liquid in the tub to receive such liquid from the tub and means to prevent discharge of such liquid from the reservoir during the cleaning operation, said last named means including a valve automatically movable to open position to admit liquid to each reservoir and to closed position to retain the liquid in the reservoir, and automatic means for effecting discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located at the heavier side of the receptacle, said last named means beingsarranged to operate during the rotation of the receptacle at a speed above the cleaning speed thereof, but below the critical speed of the receptacle.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 provided with a conduit with a restricted passage for automatically delivering liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side of the receptacle to the reservoirs on the lighter side of the receptacle when the receptacle rotates at or above its critical speed.

3. A centrifugal extractor comprising a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and for deflection at an angle to the said axis upon unbalancing of the weight of the receptacle, said receptacle being formed with an annular series of spaced liquid reservoirs arranged at substantially equal distances from the taxis of the receptacle, automatic means for effecting discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located on the side of the receptacle furthest from the axis of rotation, and a conduit connecting said reservoirs and acting during the said discharge of liquid from the reservoir to deliver liquid from the reservoirs on the side of the receptacle nearest the axis of rotation of the receptacle to the reservoirs on the side of the receptacle furthest from the axis of rotation at a rate less than the rate of discharge of liquid by said automatic withdrawing means.

4. The extractor of claim 3 wherein the conduit is provided with ori'lices between the respective reservoirs.

5. In an extractor, the combination of a receptacle mounted for rotation about its axis and for deilection at an tangle to the said axis, automatic means for withdrawing liquid from the heavier side of said receptacle during the rotation thereof, said automatic means including a normally closed valve, and actuating member therefor, and a member arranged to be contacted by said actuating member to open said valve when the receptacle is deflected a predetermined amount from its axis of rotation, and means including a check valve for each reservoir arranged to admit liquid to the reservoir when submerged in the liquid and to close automatically when withdrawn therefrom.

6. In an extractor, the combination of a receptacle mounted for rotation about its axis and for deilection at an angle to the said axis, said receptacle being provided with liquid retaining means adjacent its periphery, automatic means for withdrawing liquid from the heavier side of said receptacle during the rotation thereof, said automatic means including a normally closed valve, a cam lever for actuating the said valve, and a member normally out of contact with said lever arranged to be contacted by said lever to open said valve when said receptacle is deilected from its axis of rotation a predetermined amount, and valve means arranged to admit liquid into said liquid retaining means when said liquid admitting means are submerged in a body of liquid and to prevent discharge thereof when the receptacle is rotated below extracting speed.

7. ln an extractor, the combination of a receptacle mounted for rotation about its xis and for deiiection at an angle to the said axis, said receptacle being provided with liquid retaining means adjacent its periphery, automatic mans for withdrawing liquid from the heavier side of said receptacle during the rotation thereof, said automatic means including a normally closed valve, a cam lever for actuating the said valve, and a stationary track arranged adjacent the periphery of said receptacle and adapted to be contacted by said actuating member to open said valve when said receptacle is deiiected from its axis of rotation a predetermined amount, and valve means arranged to admit liquid into said liquid retaining means when said valve means are suberged in a body of liquid and to prevent discharge thereof when the receptacle is rotated below extracting speed.

8. In an extractor, the combination of a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about its axis and for deflection at an angle to the said axis, and resilient means tending to support said receptacle for rotation about a fixed axis, reservoirs adjacent the periphery of the receptacle, automatic means for withdrawing liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side of said receptacle during the rotation thereof, said automatic means including a normally closed valve, a cam lever for actuating the said valve, and a member arranged to be contacted by said cam lever to open said valve when said receptacle is deflected from its axis of rotation, means arranged to admit liquid into said reservoirs respectively when said means are submerged in a body of liquid and valves for said last named means automatically movable to open position when submerged in the liquid and to closed position when withdrawn from fthe liquid.

.9. The extractor of claim 8 provided with a restricted conduit for automatically delivering liquid from the side of the receptacle nearest to its axis of rotation to the side of the receptacle furthest from its axis of rotation at a rate less than the rate of withdrawal of the liquid.

l0. In a combined cleaner and extractor, the combination of a receptacle mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and for deflection at an angle to said axis, resilient means tending to support the receptacle for rotation about said axis, said receptacle being formed with an annular series of reservoirs, a stationary tub arranged to supply liquid to the said receptacle or receive liquid therefrom, said reservoirs being provided with means arranged to enter liquid in the tank for supplying the same to the said reservoirs, a valve automatically closing each of said reservoirs after the supply of liquid thereto, automatic means for effecting discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located on the heavier side of the receptacle, said automatic means being arranged to operate during the rotation of the receptacle at a speed above the cleaning speed but below the critical speed of the receptacle and including a normally closed valve, and actuating member therefor, and a member arranged to be contacted by said actuating member to open said valve when said receptacle is deflected from its axis of rotation a predetermined amount, and a conduit provided with a restricted passage for delivering liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side of the receptacle to the reservoirs on the lighter side of the receptacle at a rate less than the discharge of liquid from the reservoirs when the receptacle rotates at or above its critical speed.

ll. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the member arranged to` be contacted by said actuating member is a stationary track arranged adjacent the periphery of the receptacle.

l2. The apparatus of claim ll in which the automatic liquid delivering means is a conduit connecting said reservoirs and provided with adjustable orifices between the respective reservoirs.

13. A centrifugal extractor comprising a. receptacle mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and for dellection at an angle to the said axis, said receptacle being provided adjacent its periphery with a plurality of liquid containing reservoirs having inlet and discharge openings, valves for closing said openings, .said valves being automatically operable to permit admission of liquid to said reservoirs `and to effect withdrawal of liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side of the receptacle during rotation of the receptacle, and means provided with a restricted passage for delivering liquid from the side of the receptacle nearest its axis of rotation to the side thereof most remote from its axis of rotation at a rate less than the rate of discharge of liquid through said discharge openings.

14. A centrifugal extractor comprising a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about its axis and for dellection at an angle to the said axis upon unbalancing of the weight of the receptacle, said receptacle being provided with an annular series of spaced liquid reservoirs having inlet and outlet openings and arranged at substantially equal distances from the axis of the receptacle, a valve for closing the inlet of each reservoir after the admission of cleaning lluid thereto, a valve for closing the discharge opening of each reservoir, automatic means for opening said last named valves to effect discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located on the heavier side of the receptacle during the rotation thereof in a predetermined speed range, and means provided with a restricted passage for automatically delivering liquid from the reservoirs on the heavier side of the receptacle to the reservoirs on the lighter side of the receptacle at a rate less than the rate of discharge of the liquid through said outlet openings when the speed of rotation of the receptacle exceeds the said speed range.

l5. A combined washer and extractor comprising a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about a hori- Zontal axis and for deliection at an angle to said axis upon unbalancing of the weight of the receptacle, said receptacle being provided with an annular series of spaced liquid reservoirs having inlet and discharge openings and arranged at substantially equal distances from the axis of said receptacle7 a stationary tub arranged to supply liquid to said receptacle or receive liquid therefrom, a valve for closing the inlet opening of each reservoir after the admission of such liquid thereto, a valve for closing the discharge opening of each reservoir, automatic means for opening each of said last named valves to effect discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located on the heavier side of the receptacle during a predetermined speed range of the receptacle, and means provided with a restricted passage for delivering liquid from reservoirs on the heavier side of the receptacle to reservoirs on the lighter side of the receptacle at a rate less than the rate of discharge of the liquid through said discharge openings when the speed of said recep'tacle exceeds the said range.

16. A centrifugal extractor comprising a perforated receptacle mounted for rotation about its axis and for deflection at an angle to said axis upon unbalancing of the Weight of the receptacle, said receptacle being formed with an `annular series of reservoirs arranged at substantiaily the same distance from the said axis, means for supplying liquid to each of said reservoirs, valves for closing said liquid supply means to retain the supplied liquid Within said reservoirs, said valves being arranged to open automatically when submerged in a body of the liquid and thereafter to close to retain the liquid in the reservoirs, and automatic means for effecting the discharge of liquid from the reservoirs located on the heavier side of the receptacle when the receptacle is deflected a predetermined amount.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

